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psharp
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Feb 4, 2007, 9:09 AM
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99 Ford Taurus SE
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It's just now getting cold in GA and we bought this car last year during the summer. The heater and AC corked AOK then, but now I have to wait 10 minutes after starting the car and the heat works for about ten seconds (just the heat off of the engine i suppose?) but otherwise, it's an icebox on wheels. The AC has quit also, even though it was ICE cold when we bought it just a few months ago.
This is the car my wife and one year old daughter ride around in and we're not in a position to spend a bunch so- suggestions cheapest to most expensive?
Thanks
Ian
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way2old
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Feb 4, 2007, 1:51 PM
Post #2 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Least expensive is vacuum problem somewhere, then thermostat, then blend door actuator, then water pump. It is also possible the heater core is plugged and needs flushing.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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psharp
Novice
Feb 4, 2007, 8:50 PM
Post #3 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Thanks for your reply-
I'll get the hanes manual and see what I can learn about those things.
Gratefully,
ian
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way2old
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Feb 5, 2007, 6:40 PM
Post #4 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Have you checked the coolant level? Remove the rdiator cap to be sure the radiator is full. If the coolant is low, have it pressure tested for a leak. We had one come into the shop at quitting time tonight. If I get a chane to get to it tomorrow, I will post to you our findings.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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psharp
Novice
Feb 5, 2007, 9:55 PM
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Wow-
Thanks for thinking of us again.
You've been quite helpful- above and beyond our expectations from this simple post.
So, thanks, it's really appreciated!
I'll check out the coolant and wait to see what you find out.
Sincerely,
ian
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tut2261
User
Feb 5, 2007, 10:20 PM
Post #6 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Adding to way2old's suggestions. The Taurus with the 3.0 EFI engine from the late 90's are known for plugging the heater core. However based upon the simptoms I would start by checking the T-stat opperation. If it is hot sitting at idle and as soon as you start moving it cools down, This tells me that the T-stat is possibly stuck open or weak and when the cold air from moving flows through the radiator the coolant is not held in the engine long enough to build heat. Does it take a long time to warn up even while sitting??
For the A/C you problibly have a slow leak in the system.
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way2old
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Feb 6, 2007, 7:12 PM
Post #7 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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As of right now, we have found the coolnt reservoir cracked and vehicle was low on coolant. I hd tech swap thermostat out at same time. We are now witing overnight to start it up in the cold and see if it is cured or nrrd to go farther. Will post until it is fixed.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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way2old
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Feb 8, 2007, 2:32 PM
Post #8 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Cracked coolant reservoir caused coolant leak and there caused the no heat issue. Put car back on the road this morning after driving from cold start to warm engine for 1 hour. Heat never faltered and coolant stayed at proper level. Hope yours is as simple.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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psharp
Novice
Feb 12, 2007, 4:43 PM
Post #9 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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I'll reply to all the new added posts here-
I decided to drive it this weekend and see what else was going on- I began smelling antifreeze nearly immediately after turning on the air.
I think this explains nearly all the issues- I opened up the engine compartment again and found that there was a whitish fluid all over the top left side of the engine- this concerned me because I know what color anti-freeze is and wondered if this is the result of coolant and oil mixing- it definitely smeels of coolant. The AC and heat stopped working simultaneously earlier on this year and so I figured the problem was something they both shared.
So, I guess we'll need to take it somewhere ASAP. I'm asking around about the local mechanics now and will hopefully get some good advice.
Thanks for all the help- I will certainly be glad to hear any new thoughts you guys have about this!
-ian
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psharp
Novice
Feb 12, 2007, 4:46 PM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Thanks for your thoughts!
I posted a reply to cover all the new posts just now, so feel free to check that out and make a suggestion!
The engine itself has not been overheating or anything, in response to your question. It's cold to start then warms up- but the car does have a delay in pick up when accellerating- almost like the car has to decide if it's going to get up and go or not, and then it kind of does, but not as it ought to. I think it may be a clog in the vacuum system or fuel pump??
Thanks,
ian
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psharp
Novice
Mar 2, 2007, 7:28 PM
Post #11 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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Hey!
Good call, regarding the coolant resevoir. A friend recommended a shadetree mechanic in the area who really knew what he was doing and didn't charge an arm and a leg.
The coolant resevoir WAS cracked. The fluid was spraying from the bottom of the resevoir all over the engine and the clog was caused by a combination of...
1) someone had used the wrong type of antifreeze in the car previously (mixing two different chemicals gummed them up) and
2) MOSTLY rust because the car sat a long time before we bought it- it was REALLY gross.
So he replaced the resevoir, flushed the entire system and refilled it with the proper coolant.
The AC will work if we recharge the freeon, becasue it did when he recharged it a little bit as a test.
The heater still won't come on and blow warm air for more than a few seconds. The mechanic said he doesn't really do heating systems and thought maybe our heater core was bad with all the rust that had circulated.
any suggestions?
Thanks for all your help!
Ian
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psharp
Novice
Mar 2, 2007, 7:32 PM
Post #12 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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The comment about the T-Stat and the heater core may be exactly right also! The mechanic I went to (see post above) also had these same suggestion. For now, I'm jsut not running the heat or the cool air. He bypassed the cutoff switch so we can run the defrost until the AC quits blowing cold, but also said to get it taken care of soon.
I'll let you know what I find out in the end.
Thanks for all your help!
Ian
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steve01832
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Mar 3, 2007, 5:41 AM
Post #13 of 13
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Re: 99 Ford Taurus SE
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I have seen a lot of these heater cores get plugged up. You can remove the hoses from the core and try to flush the core out with a garden hose. When you put the garden hose on one of the pipes have an assistant turn the water on very low. You don't want to blast it with high pressure. Watch the second pipe and see what starts to come out. If it only trickles out or if you see clumps come out, replace the heater core. If you get a good clear stream of water then the core is not plugged and your problem is elsewhere. Good luck and keep us posted.
Steve
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